"I knew I only had those four years left with her before she was off to college. I wanted to have that extra time with her before she was gone," Mejia said.

Now, having been recently laid off from her part-time job, she is seeking full-time employment in project management. She also is considering branching out into the event planning industry.

What I'm reading: "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" by Michael J. Fox.

My fantasy job: Toss-up between general manager for the Mets or a National Geographic photographer.

Person I most admire: My mother, who raised two children on her own during a time when it wasn't commonplace. She opened her own business without the benefit of a formal education beyond high school. She just went out and did it regardless of the obstacles.

Why you should hire me, in 25 words or less: I've gotten a mobile data network on the air and airplanes in the air. I'm looking for a company that needs help getting off the ground!

I am a motivated leader and energetic team builder. I thrive on the unexpected call requiring one to switch gears. I am detail-oriented and very proficient in multitasking.

TOP ACHIEVEMENT

Hard to say. I'm a former White House intern and Air Force Reserves Captain. I think my highest achievement is still ahead. My most recent achievement was in managing the acquisition and antenna installation of 1,400 data communications sites worth $70 million.

Susan seems to be a talented individual who is facing a significant problem in the workplace in that she was underemployed for some time. Now, she is seeking to find a position that can fully challenge her skills and aptitude. She also would like to break into a new industry.

Here are the facts today: The U.S. unemployment rate is at 9.4 percent and climbing. With more than 9 million people involuntarily working part time, she is in a difficult situation.

There is hope, primarily because she has strong skills in a variety of areas. Her remarkable experience as an intern in the White House, as an Army Captain, as a project manager and negotiator should put her in good stead in any marketplace.

The question is how to leverage all that knowledge and experience and present it in a powerful way that grabs the attention of the companies who are searching for employees now.

ADVICE

A few things to consider, especially if you want to find a job in a new industry:

• Create a personal brand. Branding is a marketing term used to create a clear identity to the people you want to reach. It tells people who you and what you are capable of accomplishing. It means you need to be very specific in your resume about past accomplishments. Susan uses terms like "negotiated," "performed," "worked," etc. They are relatively weak and passive words when put together. Susan may have negotiated leases, but what was the result? She may have directed project activities, but what happened because she was there? A great way to check if this is important is to ask the question, "So what?" Why
should anyone care if you worked there?

• Use all the job tools that are out there today. There are many job-search websites, including craigslist, Monster and CareerBuilder, that you should search. One very good site, indeed.com, combines jobs from many sites. My last search on that site showed two project manager jobs in Susan's hometown in a different industry.

• Make a list of companies in your target industries and write a letter of introduction. Explain why you chose them, why they should consider you and ask for an interview. You just never know.

• Take time to re-write your resume with a strong emphasis on measurable achievements. Bullet each point rather than writing in paragraphs; it makes it easier to read and understand, and it highlights why you would be an asset to the company. Rate your resume by its overall appearance, its organization, the educational achievements and the experience you can bring.

• When writing a cover letter, be sure to research the company and tell them briefly why your skills and knowledge will benefit what they are doing. Also, identify those behaviors that make you an outstanding employee. Organizations too often hire for skills and fire for behavior. It is the behaviors that separate the highly successful from the mediocre.

• Prepare for the interview. View the company website and understand how the company perceives itself. Is the message short and to the point or does the website ramble on? You will get an indication as to how people approach the work they do by how they present themselves to the world. The same goes for you. How do you want to present yourself to the world? Practice eliminating the "nonwords" -- "like," "umm" or "you know" -- as they can make you sound inarticulate.

• Do not let any lead linger. After an interview, it is critical to follow up with a personal note in your own handwriting to the person you met. A personal letter indicates you take this position very seriously. Send an e-mail on the third day. Call them on the fourth day to be sure your communications have been received and to inquire if there are additional questions. Very few people take the time to be this persistent. You do not want to be a "pest," but you do want to make it clear you want this job.

How it works: You need a job. We want to help. Hire Me is an opportunity to make your pitch. E-mail your resume (as a Word attachment) to HireMe@starledger.com. If selected, we will forward your resume to an expert for advice and feature it here.